Shore Excursions for Water Lovers

If you love playing in and on the water, be assured that not all cruise line shore excursions take place on dry land. Swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving excursions are popular in the Caribbean and other warm-weather destinations. However, water-based excursions are not limited to tropical climates: even when the waters are chilly, you could try out a kayak, go fishing or watch whales from the deck of an excursion boat.

On a cruise of Alaska, you could experience the lifestyle of the crab fishermen who work in the Bering Sea. Some ships that call on Ketchikan offer excursions to Coon Cove and the Dungeness Crab Fishery, where you can help pull up the crab pots, then enjoy a feast – featuring delicious Dungeness crab, of course – at George Inlet Lodge.

On the gorgeous Hawaiian Island of Kauai, you can experience a tubing adventure. On the former Lihue Sugar Plantation, ditches and tunnels that were dug by hand in the 1870s now provide an exhilarating ride for visitors aboard sturdy inner tubes. After enjoying the fresh air and lush scenery, you’ll be ready for a picnic lunch.

Dubrovnik, Croatia, has lovely, pebble-covered beaches on the Adriatic Sea. To find a sandy beach, hop on an excursion boat for a scenic ride to Lopud, one of the Elaphite Islands just off the coast. At the sandy beach on Sunj Bay, you can relax, swim and snorkel. If you’re adventurous, ask to join the locals in a Croatian version of water volleyball, called picigin, which is played in shallow water with a ball about the size of an egg.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, is known as the "Marlin Capital of the World.” On a sport fishing excursion, you might also pull in mahi mahi, tuna, wahoo or even a swordfish. Catch-and-release fishing is encouraged in Cabo, so have your camera ready to document your catch!

For more ideas about how you can enjoy the local waters on your next cruise, talk with us at Cruise Holidays.